Corentin Moutet smashes racket in front of jeering crowd as injury ends Madrid run

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France's Corentin Moutet in his second-round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California on March 7, 2025.

France's Corentin Moutet in his second-round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California on March 7, 2025.

PHOTO: IMAGN IMAGES

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Corentin Moutet was booed off the court after smashing his racket and retiring midway through the second set of his first-round match against fellow Frenchman Harold Mayot at the Madrid Open.

Trailing 3-6, 2-3 on Wednesday, Moutet smashed his racket in frustration after losing a point. He walked to his chair to get a new one but, after what seemed like an exchange of words with the jeering crowd, headed to the umpire to signal his retirement.

The 26-year-old later said on X that he had been struggling with a lingering back injury throughout the match.

"I went to do an MRI directly after my match I’m still waiting for the result," Moutet wrote on X after the match. "I wanted to try today but I didn’t know that it would be that bad."

"My back didn’t allow me to do much. I hope to be back soon on the court. All the best to my opponent for the rest of the tournament." REUTERS

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